Surgical technique of hepatectomy combined with simultaneous resection of hepatic artery and portal vein for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (with video)

Abstract

Perihilar cholangiocarcinomas often involve the bifurcation of the portal vein and the hepatic artery at initial presentation. Previously, vascular invasion was a major obstacle for R0 resection; therefore, such tumors were regarded as locally advanced, unresectable disease. Recently, in leading centers, these tumors have been resected using a specific technique, vascular resection and reconstruction. Vascular resection is classified into three types: portal vein resection alone, hepatic artery resection alone, and simultaneous resection of both the portal vein and hepatic artery. Of these, portal vein resection is widely performed, whereas hepatic artery resection remains controversial. Therefore, hepatectomy combined with simultaneous resection of the portal vein and hepatic artery represents one of the most complicated and challenging procedures in hepatobiliary surgery. The survival benefit of this extended procedure remains unproven, and there is only a single study reporting an unexpectedly favorable outcome in 50 patients. Considering the dismal survival in patients with unresectable disease, hepatic artery resection and/or portal vein resection may be a promising option of choice. However, the technique is highly demanding and has not been standardized. Therefore, this extended surgery may be allowed only in selected hepatobiliary centers.